RE/MAX Associates Northeast ushers in second-generation leadership

Compiled by Jennifer Summer, jsummer@hcnonline.com

Updated 1:05 pm, Thursday, November 10, 2016

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Rex and his wife, Candace, purchased the RE/MAX Associates Northeast franchise, with offices at 2940 Oak St. in Kingwood and 18700 W. Lake Houston Parkway in Atascocita â a combined 96 agents strong â on Sept. 1, and Rex is immersed in learning all the ins and outs of the business.

Rex Wall has always been a No. 1 fan of his father Buddy. When the opportunity to purchase a business where his father works became available, he was happy to do so.

Buddy Wall has served as the broker of record at RE/MAX Associates Northeast for a number of years and has been in the real estate industry in Kingwood for more than three decades. Rex fondly recalls visiting his father at his office through the years.

"I grew up around real estate," he said. "Some of the agents who still work at the office remember me as a kid."

Rex and his wife Candace purchased the RE/MAX Associates Northeast franchise, with offices at 2940 Oak St. in Kingwood and 18700 W. Lake Houston Parkway in Atascocita – a combined 96 agents strong – Sept. 1, and Rex is immersed in learning all the ins and outs of the business.

Rex said he looks forward to spending time expanding his connections in the community. Rex and his family moved to Kingwood when he was 4 years old, and he returned to the area after earning his business degree from Baylor University.

Candace also is a graduate of Baylor University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in counseling. She has worked in the field of neuropsychology and as a teacher in the Humble Independent School District.

The couple said they look forward to showcasing the community they love to call home.

"RE/MAX has been a leading company in this market for close to 40 years," Rex said. "What I want to do is continue that pursuit of excellence – and do whatever I can to make it even better."

For more information about RE/MAX Associates Northeast, call 281-358-8888 (Kingwood) or 281-812-9400 (Atascocita) or visit northhoustonhomes.com.

Small business owners and operators make up 90 percent of the Chamber's membership. At the luncheon, the Chamber will recognize the impact small-business owners have on the Lake Houston Area community and economy, highlight the Chamber's Small Business Saturday initiative, recognize the Lone Star College Small Business Development Center Small Business of the Year Award finalists and celebrate the Total Resource Campaign with a Victory Party marking the successful end of the 2016 campaign.

Reservations are due by noon Friday, Nov. 11. The cost to attend is $30 for Chamber members and $35 for guests. Reservations made after the deadline are subject to availability and will be $35 for members and $40 for guests. For more information, email Chris O'Dell at codell@lakehouston.org.

Barring any court or legislative delays, the federal overtime rule change is scheduled to take effect in approximately four weeks, impacting the salaries of 4.2 million American workers, according to White House estimates.

On Dec. 1, the federal minimum salary level for overtime pay for FLSA-covered workers will increase to $913 per week, or $47,476 annually. However, recent news reports suggest that many American companies are not fully prepared. With the clock rapidly ticking down, Anna Brewer, director of HR administrative compliance at Insperity, suggests that companies have answers to the following four questions before the change occurs.

1. What are the impacts? It is critical for companies to gain a full understanding of the effect the law will have on their bottom lines. Businesses should review job duties and salaries for all workers right away, so it is clear what will happen with company payroll in December and beyond. Also, consider pay adjustments for some employees whose salaries are near the cap.

2. Is the company in need of a technology upgrade? Is it finally time for the business to enter the digital era when it comes to employee scheduling and time entry? Electronic timekeeping solutions that allow employees to clock-in and clock-out at their workstations or via mobile devices can provide accurate and immediate data. This allows employers to track worker hours in real time and make scheduling adjustments if problems arise.

3. Are some new, creative solutions needed? Challenges posed by the new overtime rule may require some companies to consider a few scheduling and/or time management alternatives. One example is to allow employees to request an adjusted work schedule. This allows employees to shift their work hours (within reason) for convenience or to times when they are most productive. Approaches such as this can help ensure staffing during key periods while also improving morale and retention. Another suggestion is to conduct a company-wide survey of standing meetings to determine if cancelling or combining meetings can eliminate wasted work hours. A third idea is to combat employee time spent working outside the office by limiting or discouraging after hours work emails. In many companies, employees spend countless hours emailing at night and on weekends. This can lead to burnout. Furthermore, non-exempt employees must be compensated for all the time they have worked, including answering work emails at home.

4. Is the company communicating with employees…and also listening? Perhaps the most important step in preparing for the rule change is to communicate with impacted workers and their supervisors. In doing so, proactively explain any protocol or policy adjustments related to the overtime rule change. It is also crucial to ensure employees have the chance to ask questions or raise concerns both now and in the weeks ahead.